Water
I'm reading In Spite of the Gods: The Strange Rise of Modern India. I found it in the collection of books left by other volunteers. The author, Edward Luce, has praise for the way things function in Tamil Nadu, the southern state where I am living. However he does mention a chronic problem with poor water supply. This has not been my experience so far. They must have made improvements in the last three years. It is true that the piped water is not potable but I have ample supply...most of the day. There are those two early mornings when I had water and then I didn't: once when I was washing clothes and once when I had suds in my hair- had to be. These experiences make me wonder if the water is shut off at night. (And you are wondering why I am up so early.)

During the day I have had no problems with our piped water. I think most people in this area have piped water. Although I am told that some poor do not. I have seen pumps like the one in this picture. They don't seem to be used all that much, but I have seen them used. I'm told anyone can use them.

There was a drought here 2 or 3 years ago and, of course, water was a real problem then. But then there was a good rain and now water is not a problem. There are tanks on the roofs, like these. Apparently water is pumped from below and held in the tanks. Maybe that's why I ran out of water on those early mornings - perhaps our tank was empty. I was the only one stirring in our building since it was early. The neighbor, though, was using her water. She is an early riser. I could hear her washing clothes with her water running. And yet my supply had petered out. Then life in my building began and the water flowed from my faucets once again.

We have no temperature control on our taps. It runs cold. Or so I thought. One day this past week I came home hot, sweaty and looking forward to a cool, refreshing shower. Imagine my surprise when the water was hot - and remained that way with no way to cool it down. Like the water in a hose on a summer day, the water in our pipes or tank is heated by the sun. So in the afternoon, we have hot water. The rest of the day we have cold water.

I'm following the example of those around me.... I'm washing my clothes by hand. So far. Every morning I wash what was dirtied the day before. In this way the laundry never piles up and is manageable. For now. I have noticed that not everyone is keeping up daily with their laundry. I have seen a few roofs, fences and lines with more than a day's worth of laundry drying. (And, no, I'm not washing my sheets or towel.)

As I mentioned, the water in the pipes is not potable. Some people buy potable water from trucks like this one. Viji says water is expensive. We can buy bottled water in the stores. It's Rs 12-14 (30 cents) for a litre. The women filling their jugs from the truck are paying less. It looks like coins are being exchanged...so maybe several rupees for a jug or two? You can also buy potable water from stores but not in bottles. You provide your own containers just like these women on the street are doing. Bottled water is part of what we volunteers paid for in our fees. The supply at the office is unending. We even get chilled water with our meals! (And, yes, I admit it. I did grab my bottle of water to rinse the suds from my hair that one morning!)
Like I said, I haven't found water supply to be a problem. And it doesn't seem to be for others either. Let's hope the situation remains this good. And that one day the water in the pipes is potable.
Two other notes:
I was able to watch the inauguration. It was shown on an English Language News Channel in real time. So, I was watching the ceremonies at 11pm Tuesday night. My principal said he would watch it. Viji, a teacher, and her family watched it and wondered if I was too. Might as well include a photo of Viji, her husband and her son. She has been very helpful and supportive.
Also- I mentioned to our yoga instructor that I'm always pleasantly surprised at the change in the weather by 7pm. At 3:30 when I return from school, it is hot outside. But then the sun goes down just after 6 and when we meet on the roof for yoga at 7 , it is cool and breezy. He said, "You are hot? This is winter." Oh. Yes.